Pedram Gerami

Selected to Best Doctors in America 2019-2020, Dr Gerami is the director of the Skin Cancer Institute of Northwestern Medicine (SCIN-Med) and the director of the Melanoma Program in the Skin Cancer Institute and the Melanoma clinic in the department of Dermatology. His clinical and research interests are primarily focused on melanoma skin cancer, atypical nevi and borderline melanocytic tumors such as Spitz tumors which maybe difficult to classify. As a dermatologist, dermatopathologist and researcher focused in the care of patients with melanoma and atypical nevi, he has a unique perspective on the behavior of melanocytic neoplasms. His interests include how to utilize clinical, histologic and molecular diagnostic methods to optimize diagnostic accuracy and best predict the behavior of melanocytic neoplasms as well as developing methods for diagnosis of melanoma skin cancer at its earliest and most curable stage. In clinic he primarily cares for patients with melanoma or atypical nevi. He is recognized internationally for his expertise in the clinical and histologic diagnosis of melanoma. His expertise in the pathologic diagnosis of melanoma draws over 1500 second opinion cases both from within and outside of the United States per year. As a researcher he is focused on developing newer molecular based methods to help distinguish melanoma from nevi and predict the behavior of melanoma and developing methods for diagnosis of melanoma at the earliest possible stage.

Academic Focus

Dr Gerami's research focus involves both using molecular methods to more accurately classify and diagnose melanocytic neoplasms as well as developing methods for diagnosis of melanoma at its earliest and most curable stage. He has over 100 peer reviewed publications specifically relating to melanoma and/or melanocytic nevi. His research on the genomics of Spitzoid neoplasms and other borderline melanocytic tumors has resulted in numerous assays which have become the standard of care for diagno...[Read full text]Dr Gerami's research focus involves both using molecular methods to more accurately classify and diagnose melanocytic neoplasms as well as developing methods for diagnosis of melanoma at its earliest and most curable stage. He has over 100 peer reviewed publications specifically relating to melanoma and/or melanocytic nevi. His research on the genomics of Spitzoid neoplasms and other borderline melanocytic tumors has resulted in numerous assays which have become the standard of care for diagnosis of these diagnostically difficult cases. He has been involved in the development of FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization) for melanoma diagnosis, the Castle biosciences mRNA expression profiling test for prognosis of melanoma and the Derm Tech Int. assay for tape stripping diagnosis of melanocytic neoplasms. Currently he is involved in a broad effort to genomically characterize melanocytic tumors which may otherwise be difficult to diagnose to allow for more accurate classification of these tumors. His research efforts also involve utilizing dermoscopy and other imaging tools to allow for earlier and more accurate diagnosis of melanoma.

Clinical Focus

Dr Gerami is a dermatologist and dermatopathologist and is the director of the Skin Cancer Institute of Northwestern and the Melanoma Clinic in the department of dermatology. He is internationally recognized for his clinical and histologic expertise in the diagnosis of melanoma. My focus as a clinical dermatologist involves addressing all aspects of specialized needs for optimal care of patients with melanoma, dysplastic nevus syndrome or borderline melanocytic tumors such as Spitzoid neoplasm...[Read full text]Dr Gerami is a dermatologist and dermatopathologist and is the director of the Skin Cancer Institute of Northwestern and the Melanoma Clinic in the department of dermatology. He is internationally recognized for his clinical and histologic expertise in the diagnosis of melanoma. My focus as a clinical dermatologist involves addressing all aspects of specialized needs for optimal care of patients with melanoma, dysplastic nevus syndrome or borderline melanocytic tumors such as Spitzoid neoplasms. This involves utilizing mole mapping, total body photography, dermoscopy and dermoscopic monitoring to allow for diagnosis of melanoma at the earliest and most curable stage. Our clinic also provides genetic testing and specialized care for patients with CDKN2A, BAP1 or other genetic conditions resulting in increased risk of melanoma. As a dermatopathologists I receive over 1500 second opinion cases per year. We use a strategy of integrating clinical, histologic and molecular data to arrive at the most accurate possible diagnosis.

Education

• MD: Rosalind Franklin University/Finch/Chicago Medical School (2001)

Postgraduate Training

• Resident: Univ. of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, (2005)
• Fellow: University of Chicago Hospitals, (2006)

Certification

• Board Certification: Dermatology, American Board of Dermatology
• Board Certification: Dermatopathology, American Board of Dermatology